Why Warspite's steering defect resisted a simple diagnosis

What caused Warspite's recurring steering problems, and why were they not permanently fixed?

The precise cause remained uncertain because the fault was intermittent; repeated interventions appeared to work until the problem returned.

The defect did not appear continuously, which made it difficult for engineers to reproduce under controlled conditions. Repairs could seem successful until the steering failed again under another combination of motion, load, or machinery state. The surviving evidence does not support assigning one neat cause. The episode illustrates why intermittent faults can persist even when a ship receives serious technical attention.